Species

• Types of ants killed by residual insecticides include cornfield ants, field ants, odorous house ants, acrobat ants, pavement ants and the false honey ant. Residual insecticide does not work effectively for carpenter ants, pharaoh ants or thief ants, according to the University of Minnesota Extension.
  
  

Advantages

• Residual insecticide barriers can act as an ant deterrent for homes and other buildings. Spraying around the structure's edges will kill scouts looking for new food sources. Residual insecticides work best in combination with baits.
  
  

Disadvantages

• Ant species like carpenter ants live in hard-to-find colonies where the queen can easily lay enough eggs to replace any ants killed by residual pesticides. Ants like pharaoh ants will "bud"---or suddenly leave the colony and start a new one---whenever pesticides are detected in the original colony's location, according to "Handbook of Pest Control."